Appliance for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and other analogous substances.



J. ASHTON.

BR, SOAP, LARD, AND OTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES. APPLICATION FILED FEB.6, 1912.

APPLIANCE FOR CUTTING CHEESE, BUTT Patented May 28, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 00., WASHINGTON, 1,. .4

J. ASHTON. APPLIANGEFOR CUTTING CHEESE, BUTTER, SOAP, LARD, AND OTHERANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED IBB. 6, 1912.

Patented May- 28, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 l I I l I I l I I ll fill H HHHHHHIH WITNESSES INVENTUR Q 0 I:(175/??070 Q,

COLUMBIA bLANDCIRAPH (10-, WASHINGTON, D. C.

J. ASHTON. ".APPLIANGE FOB. CUTTING CHEESE, BUTTER, SOAP, LARD, ANDOTHER ANALOGOUS SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6, 1912.

Patented May 28, 1912.

3 SHEBTS- SHEET 3.

INVE NTO R Jazaflafit on WITNESS ES m WWO COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO"WASHINGTON, D. C.

JoHiv ASHTON, or rrnnnronn, ENGLAND.

APPLIANCE FOR CUTTING CHEESE, BUTTER, SOAP, LARD, AND OTHER ANALOGOUSSUBSTANCES.

1 all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN ASHTON, a subject ofthe King of Great Britain, residing at Hereford, England, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Appliances for Cutting Cheese,Butter, Soap,

. Lard, and other Analogous Substances, of

being adapted to be propelled to and fro' which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to appliances for cutting cheese, butter, soap,lard, and other analogous substances, particularly for use by grocers,provision merchants, and the like; the said appliances being of thattype in which the cutting element consists of an angularly-movabletensioned wire, thin strip of metal, or knife blade, whose outer end isguided by a curved quadrant bar carried by the base.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved appliancewhich is simple in construction and can easily be manipulated, inwhichthe wire or cutter is kept in a constant stat-e of tension, andwhich is provided with simple but efiective means for fixing the wire orthe like and for adjusting its tension.

The improved appliance consists essentially of a quadrant guide bar orthe like substantially in the form of an arc of a cirole of a springconstruction upon which is mounted a runner fitting or wire clamping andtensioning device to which one end of the wire or the like is attached,said runner along the bar so as to cause'the wire or knife to make anangular cutting movement.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevation,partly in section, of an appliance constructed in accordance with thisinvention. Fig. 2 shows a topsideplan of same. Fig. 3 is asectional-elevation of the appliance showing the wire or cutter duringits operative movement. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation partly insection of the front end of the appliance with the cutter and runnerretained at. the end of its upward stroke. Fig. 5 shows a frontelevation of the appliance, with the cutter in the position shown inFig. 4. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the lower clamping and tensioningarrangement. Fig. 7 represents a vertical section through same.

Fig. 8 shows a side elevation of the said locking and tensioningarrangement. Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a? Fig. 6. Fig.

7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 6, 1912.

Patented May 28,1912.

Serial No. 675,743.

10 represents a vertical transverse section through the runner fittingand tensioning arrangement to which the upper end of the w re cutter isattached. Fig. '11 is a similar view to Fig. 10, but shows thetensioning device after being adjusted in order to increase the tensionof the wire. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the runnerfitting and tensioning device.

The same reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in each of thefigures of the drawings.

The appliance consists of a curved quadrant arm 1 bent substantially toan arc of a circle, and attached at one end to an outstanding horizontalbracket 2 carried by an end plate 8 which is formed integral with, orpart of the same casting as, the metallic bot tom 4 of the hollow baseof the appliance, said bracket 2 being provided with a split eye orsocket adapted to embrace the said end of the quadrant arm, which isclamped in position by a bolt 5. The said quadrant arm or bar 1 is of aspring construction, its free end normally tending to move outward orupward, thus causing it, when in its free state, to assume a curvaturewhich is not quite a true arc, as shown by dotted lines Fig. 3. This bar1 is arranged longitudinally over the middle of the top or slab 43 ofthe base upon which the cheese or the like is placed so that its freeextremity comes above the end remote from the attachment bracket 2, thesaid base 43 being slotted longitudinally at 44 immediately beneath thebar 1 in order to receive the wire 6, which constitutes the cutter,after having passed through the material.

At the end of the base opposite to the fixed extremity of the bar 1 is abracket 7 which carries a swiveling or rotary clamping fitting to whichone end of the wire cutter 6 is attached. This clamping fitting consists(Figs. 6 to 9) of a block 8 carrying a pivot 9 which passes through, andturns within, a transverse hole in the said bracket 7 so that thefitting can turn in a longitudinal plane, the pivot 9 being retained in.the bracket 7 by a nut 10 screwed upon its end. The outer face of thepivoted block 8 lies in the same plane as the slot 44: in the base andit carries a projecting bolt or screwed stud 1l,having a squaresectioned inner end upon which a loose clamping plate or washer 19. isthreaded, While upon the outer end of this bolt 11 is a nut which, whenscrewed up, enables the end of the wire 6, which passes through atransverse hole or piercing 14 at the inner end of the said bolt 11, tobe securely clamped between the said clamping washer 12 and the pivotedblock 8. The inner edge of the clamping washer 12 is also provided, at apoint adjacent to the hole 14 in the bolt 11 through which the wirepasses, with a recess or gap 15 in order to prevent the said wire beingsheared or broken. After the wire has been passed through the said holeor piercing 14: but before being clamped by the washer 12, it is engagedwith a trans verse eye 16 in the end of a rotary winding pin or spindle17 which passes axially through the outer cranked end of the block 8.This pin 17 has a milled thumb-piece 18 fixed upon its outer end bywhich it can be rotated, and it tends to be drawn inward by a spring 19so as to cause ratchetteeth 20 upon the inner face of the saidthumb-piece 18 to be taken into engagement with corresponding teeth 21upon the face of the cranked end of the block 8, thereby locking the pin17 in posit-ion. By turning the thumb-piece 18 however, the ratchetteeth 20 and 21 will wipe over one another and the wire 6 wound aroundthe inner end of the said pin 17 so as to be drawn fairly taut and givenan initial tension. When this has been done the said wire 6 is fixed byscrewing up the nut 13 of the clamping fitting so that it is securelygripped between the loose clamping washer or block 12 and the face ofthe bracket plate 8. The opposite end of the wire 6 is adapted to beattached to a runner fitting or traveling carriage mounted upon quadrantbar 1 over which it can be traversed to and fro by hand. This runnerconsists of a suitable frame 22, fitted with handles or grips 23 uponeach side, and of a substantially U-shape the sides embracing theopposite faces of the bar 1 which latter is preferably of a rectangularsection as shown. Between the outer ends of the said sides of the frame22 a pair of rollers 24 are mounted, which run upon or travel over theouter edge of the bar 1 so as to admit of the fitting being easily movedto and fro. To attach the wire 6 to the said fitting and give thenecessary tension thereto, a clamping and tensioning device, similar tothat described in connection with the lower end of the wire, isemployed. The device is carried by and is adjustable within, a radiallydirected forked or slotted extension 25 of the runner frame 22 andcomprises a slide 26 having a necked part 27 of reduced diameter whichengages between the sides of the said forked extension 25 carrying saidslide carrying an integral bracket or plate 28 which supports, a bolt orstud 29, fitted with a clamping block 30 and nut 31, the wire 6 beingpassed through a transverse hole in the square inner end of the bolt 29and being clamped in position in a similar manner to above described.After having been thus passed through this hole the upper end of saidwire 6 is engaged with a transverse eye in the end of a rotary windingpin or spindle 32 which passes axially through the slide 26, said pin 32having fixed upon its outer end a head 15 provided with ratchet-teeth 33engaging with corresponding teeth 34 upon the end of the said slide 26,and adapted, onbeing turned, to impart a tension to the wire 6, thelatter being then secured by the aforesaid clamping block 29. The latteris recessed at 46 to prevent cutting or shearing of the wire.

In order to give the final and more delicate adjustment to the tensionto the wire 6 and draw it up tight, the slide 26-carries a longradiallydirected bolt or shank 35 which passes through guide sleeves 36upon the side of the runner frame 22. A spring 37 surrounds the innerend of the shank between the lower sleeve 36 and the slide 26 and a nut38 is fitted upon the upper end so as to bear upon the outer end ofupper sleeve 36. This nut 38 is of a long barrel form, and has a milledhead 39 by which it can be operated by hand. \Vhen screwed up it drawsthe slide 26 to which the wire 6 is attached, outward in a radialdirection, and thus gives the necessary tension to the said wire, atthesame time compressing the spring 37 which surrounds the shank 35. On thenut 38 being slackened this spring 37 re-acts upon the slide 26 so as toreduce the tension of the wire 6.

In use the handles 23 upon the opposite sides of the runner frame 22 aregrasped and the latter movedalong the quadrant bar 1 to the outer end.The cheese or the like having been placed upon the base or slab, therunner is then drawn downward over the bar 1, causing the wire 6 to makean angular movement and pass through the substance fitting 8 to whichthe lower end of the wire 6 is attached moves with the said wire duringthis operation. As the runner frame 22 is raised the spring arm 1 isslightly depressed, and made to assume a true arc, thus exerting aradial pull upon the wire 6 and keeping samein a constant state oftension. To keep the runner in a raised position with the wire 6vertical the outer end of the arm 1 is provided with a notch or recess10 in its outer edge with whichthe foremost of the rollers 2 1 isadapted to engage. Means are also provided for locking the pivotedcarrier 8 of the lower clamping fitting at the inner end of the wirewhen the latter is in the vertical position. For this purpose,thebracket 7 'is provided with'a pivoted'catch 41 adapted to be turnedinto engagement with a recess 42. in the said making a clean out. Thepivoted clamping i block 8, so as to prevent the latter turning. Thesaid clamping fitting and bracket can be inclosed by a detachable coveror cap and the rollers may, if required, be mounted upon ball bearings.

47 are stops upon the base for preventing movement or displacement ofthe cheese or the like during the cutting operation.

A spring 48, or a pad of rubber is preferably employed within theinterior of the base for damping the vibration of the wire.

Having now fully described my invention I declare that what I claimis 1. An appliance of the type herein referred to for cutting cheese andsimilar substances, comprising a slotted cheese supporting base, aquadrant guide arm in the plane of the slot in the base and having anend fixed to the latter, the guide arm being resiliently yieldable inits plane, a runner operating on the guide arm, a cutting wire connectedat one end to the runner, and means in line with the slot of the basefor associating the other end of the wire with the base.

2. An appliance of the type herein referred to for cutting cheese,butter, soap, lard, and analogous substances, comprising a base, anangularly movable cutter, a runner to which the outer end of the cutteris attached, and a quadrant guide arm carried by the base and upon whichthe runner is mounted, the said guide arm being of a spring constructionand having a free outer end which normally assumes a position that givesto the arm a less degree of curvature than that of a true are of acircle, but which, when the runner is moved to the outer end of itstravel, is depressed and the arm put in tension, so that the said freeend tends to move outward and exerts a radial pull upon the cutter tokeep same in a constant state of tension.

3. An appliance for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and analogoussubstances, comprising a base, a quadrant arm of a spring constructioncarried thereby, an angularly movable cutter, a carriage having rollerswhich run upon the arm, a clamping device upon the carriage forattaching the outer end of the cutter to the latter, and laterallyextending handles upon opposite sides of the frame of the carriage.

4. An appliance for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and analogoussubstances, comprising a base, a quadrant arm of a spring constructionfixed at one end to the base and having a free outer end provided with arecess in its upper edge, an angularly movable cutter, a carriagemounted on the arm, and a clamping fitting on the carriage for attachingthe outer end of the cutter thereto,

said carriage depressing the outer end of the arm so as to put thelatter in tension when moved to the outer end of its travel, and runningupon rollers one of which is adapted to engage with the recess in theend of the guide arm to hold the carriage in its raised position.

5. An appliance for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and analogoussubstances, comprising a base, a quadrant arm of a spring constructioncarried thereby, an angularly movable cutter, a pivoted clamping fittingmounted upon a bracket on the base and to which the inner end of thecutter is attached, a carriage mounted on the quadrant arm, and aclamping fitting 011 the carriage for attaching the outer end of thecutter to the latter.

6. An appliance for cutting cheese, butter, soap, lard, and analogoussubstances, comprising a base, a quadrant arm of a spring constructioncarried thereby, an angularly movable wire cutter, a carriage mounted onthe quadrant arm, a rotary winding key 011 the carriage with which theouter end of the wire is engaged, means for retaining the key in itsadjusted positon, and a separate clamping fitting for fixing the wireafter the operation of the winding key.

7 An appliance for cutting cheese,butter, soap, lard, and analogoussubstances, comprising a base, a quadrant arm of a spring constructioncarried thereby, an angularly movable cutter, a runner mounted on thequadrant arm, a slide on the carriage having the outer end of the cutterattached thereto, and a hand-operated screw device connected with theslide for adjusting the tension of the said cutter.

8. An appliance for cutting cheese, butter,

soap, lard, and analogous substances, comprising a base, a quadrant armof a spring construction carried thereby, an angularly movable cutter, arunner carriage mounted on the quadrant arm, a necked tensioning slideworking in a slot in the carriage frame and attached to the outer end ofthe cutter, a radial shank carried by the slide and passing throughguides on the said frame, a

hand-operated nut upon the outer end of the shank adapted, when screwedup, to draw the slide outward, and a spring surrounding the shank formoving the slide inward and reducing the tension of the cutter when thenut is slackened.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN ASHTON. Witnesses HENRY L. KERRETT, HENRY NORTON MERRETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissioner of ratents, Washington, D. G.

